Improvement in fire-escapes



UNITED STATES TENT OFFICE.

IMPROVEMENT INFIRE-ESCAPES.`

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 119,997, dated October 17, 1871.

ToV all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, THOMAS C. RICE, of the city and county of Worcester and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Fire-Escapes 5 and I do herebydeclare the following to be a full, clear, and enact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawing which forms a part of this specification, in which- Figure 1 represents a perspective view illustrat-ing the manner of using my improved fireescape. Fig. 2 represents a side view of my improved lire-escape, a portion of the casing ofthe slide-block being removed to reveal the internal arrangement. Fig. 3 represents a front view of the slide-block, the grappling-hook, and the upper portion of the stirrup-cords.

vTo enable those skilled in the art to which invention belongs to make and use the same, I

will proceed to describe it more in detail.

The object of my invention is to provide a simple and convenient apparatus for facilitating the escape of persons from high buildings in case of fire. The nature of my invention consists in the combination, with a slide-block, ofa combined friction-lever and hand-support, as hereinafter described.

My improved fire-escape consists of a suspension-rope, A, sufficiently long to reach from the upper part of the building to the ground, and having secured to its upper end a grapplinghook, B, to Ahook onto the top ofthe windowcasin g, cornice, or other convenient portion of the building and thereby sustain the weight of the apparatus and its freight.' The grapplinghook B is, in this instance, made with two prongs or points, so that it will acquire a rm and sure hold upon the object to Which it is grvappled. A

peculiarly-constructed slide-block, C, is arranged upon the suspension-rope A, the rope passing' into the block C at one end and out at the other, in the manner illustrated in Fig. 2. A frictionlever, D, is pivoted within the block C by a bolt, E, which passes through the parts from side to side. The head of the friction-lever D is made in the form of a scroll, and of such size as to nearly till the interior of the block C. A slight groove is formed around its edge to receive the suspension-rope A, which latter is caused to curve around the edge of the leverhead near the rim F of the block, as shown in Fig. 2. The opposite end ofthe lever D projects from the block C, and is properly rounded off and curved, so as to form a convenient handle, by means of which the operator is enabled to regulate and govern the rapidity of descent. The inner surface on the rim F of the block C is slightly corrugated, and as the handle of the friction-lever D is drawn downward the rope A is compressed between the head of the lever D and the corrugated surface of the rim F, thereby increasing' the friction upon the rope to a greater or less extent, according to the amount of force exerted 5 and by raising the handleof the lever D the amount of friction is diminished. The rope A is turned at a comparatively sharp angle directly after entering and before leaving the block, at the points marked a and .0, so that when the handle is fully raised there will be sufficient friction upon the rope to support a light weight; and as the lever D is drawn down the friction is gradually increased, until, when fully down, it compresses the rope to such a degree that the block is prevented from sliding with any amount of weight which the rope is capable of sustaining. Holes e are formed through the block and lever, which correspond in position when the latter is drawn down to its full extent zand a pin, I, is attached to the side of the block by means of a chain or cord, which pin can be inserted in the holes c and the lever thereby locked in position. The block C and parts connected therewith can thus be retained in a fixed position at any portion of the rope, while the operator has both hands free to perform any service that may be required. Aloop, Gr, is arranged in the lower part of the block C, as illustrated, and attached thereto is a snaphook, K, and a stirrup-cord, H.' Awaist-belt or girdle, L, provided with metallic rings f, is attached to the snap-hook K byone of its rings. The belt L is provided with a snap-hook, M, by which it can be readily secured around the waist of the operator, the size being adjusted by hooking it in the different rings. The stirrup-cord H is divided at its lower end and provided with a pair of stirrups, N, in which the operator can stand while descending the rope A. Ametallic ring, l), is, in this instance, arranged upon the loop G, to which may be attached any article of baggage which it may be desirable to carry down. In lieu of the Waist-beltL a simple piece of rope may be used for the girdle, or a belt of any other convenient material. The block C may be made of wood or of metal, and its rim F can be made smooth upon the inner side, if desired, instead of being corrugated, as shown.

The operation of my improved nre-escape is as follows: The grappling-hook B is hooked onto the top of the casing of the Window, or upon some other convenient projection, and the end of the suspension-rope A is thrown to the ground. The slide-block G is to be looked to the suspension-rope at a convenient position by means of Y Vthe pinl inthemanner heretofore stated.Y t The operator then arranges the waist-girdle around the body, and then places the feet in the stirrups, and, grasping the handle of the frictionlever D with one hand, removes the pin I with the other; then, by relieving the friction upon ing up the rope A. The operation is greatly facilitated if there are persons upon the ground who can carry the lower end of the suspensionrope to some distance away from the building, so that it will hang in an oblique position and thereby prevent the descending object-s from striking against projecting portions ofthe building.

It will be observed that my hre-escape is very simple in its construction and is not liable to get out of order. It can be readily used by any person without any previous practice. Itis small and scribed.

THOMAS O. RICE. Witnesses:

Guns. H. BURLEIGH,

Trios. H. DODGE. (79) 

